Orville Levi Lundgren

Orville Levi Lundgren, 88, of Topeka, passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2009.

He was born Dec. 19, 1920, near Clyde, KS, the son of Levi and Olga E. (Lundeen) Lundgren. He was a 1939 graduate of Washington High School. He was raised in Washington, KS, moving to Topeka in 1946. He served in the U.S. Army for 3 years, stationed in N. Africa and Europe.

Mr. Lundgren was employed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. from 1946 until retiring in 1979. He farmed in northern Shawnee County. He later was a School Bus Driver for USD 501 for 11 years. He was a member of the West Side Baptist Church since 1947, where he sang in the choir for over 40 years and served on numerous boards and committees. He was a former member of the Sunrise Optimist Club of North Topeka; Philip Billard Post No. 1650, V.F.W. and a member of Local No. 307 United Rubber Workers.

Orville married Hilda M. Johnson on June 22, 1946 in Topeka. She survives of the home. Other survivors include a grandson, Sean Andrew Lundgren (Therese) of Topeka; four great-grandchildren: MacKensie, Jaden, Morgan, and Keegan Lundgren all of Topeka; and a sister, Gloria Watkins of Indianapolis, IN. He was preceded in death by two sons, Steven Allen Lundgren on Aug. 2, 1969 and Roger Dean Lundgren on June 17, 1984. He was also preceded in death by a brother, (Gerald) Curtis Lundgren on June 11, 1985, and a sister, Fern Wullschleger on Dec. 31, 2001.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM, Fri., June 26, 2009, at the West Side Baptist Church, 1008 SW 4th St., Topeka. A Fort Riley U.S. Army Detail will conduct military honors at Rochester Cemetery, Topeka. Mr. Lundgren will lie in state after 3 p.m., Thurs., at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave, Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to West Side Baptist Church, 1008 SW 4th St., Topeka, KS 66606 or Midland Hospice, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606-2800.